Sir Keir Starmer has stood by Peter Mandelson after a birthday message he wrote to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 resurfaced.
The prime minister has given Lord Mandelson his full backing to stay on as Britain’s ambassador to the US, stressing the positive work he has done to build ties with the Trump administration.
The ambassador has been embroiled in scandal after a birthday message he wrote to the disgraced financier was published by the House Oversight Committee in the US, in which he describes Epstein as his “best pal”.
It also contained a photo of Lord Mandelson and Epstein on what appeared to be the multimillionaire’s island, as well as a handwritten note for the disgraced financier.
Lord Mandelson said the message is “very embarrassing to see and to read” and said he “deeply” regrets carrying on his association with Epstein “for far longer than I should have done”.
It comes as race to be Labour’s new deputy leader is well underway, with Bridget Phillipson emerging as the early frontrunner in initial nominations.
Key Points
- Mandelson retains backing of government after Epstein birthday message revelations
- Labour deputy leadership candidates to make their pitch in hustings
- Who is running in the race to become Labour’s new deputy leader?
- Starmer to meet Israeli president after condemning strike in Qatar
- What is happening today?
Starmer to face PMQs
11:10
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Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer will face his weekly questions in the Commons at midday.
He will be grilled by the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, and other MPs for the first time since his major cabinet reshuffle.
He will likely face questions on the issue, as well as his controversial meeting with the Israeli president this afternoon and Labour’s deputy leadership content.
Healey condemns Russia as he meets with E5 defence ministers
10:53
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Athena Stavrou
Defence Secretary John Healey said Russia’s actions were “reckless, unprecedented and dangerous” after Poland shot down multiple Russian drones that entered its territory.
In remarks before talks in London with defence officials from Poland, Italy, France and Germany, Mr Healey said the meeting was taking place against the backdrop of “escalating Russian aggression”.
He said: “Last night Putin took this aggression to a new level of hostility. A violation of Polish airspace deep enough for Warsaw airport to be closed and Nato jets forced directly to shoot down Russia’s drones while, of course, the attacks on Ukraine continue to intensify.”
He added: “Russia’s actions are reckless, unprecedented and dangerous. We totally condemn these attacks, and we say to President Putin: Your aggression only strengthens the unity between Nato nations.”
Full story: Mandelson breaks silence over Epstein scandal and admits there’s ‘very embarrassing’ revelations to come
10:36
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Athena Stavrou
John Healey arrives the Group of Five defence ministers' meeting
10:18
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Athena Stavrou
Full story: Bridget Phillipson emerges as frontrunner for Labour’s deputy leader as six candidates join race
09:59
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Athena Stavrou
Charity condemns Herzog's UK visit
09:57
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Athena Stavrou
Charities have condemned the Israeli president’s visit to the UK today after the country’s strike on Qatar and continued bombardment of Gaza.
ActionAid UK said it is “shameful” that the government is hosting Isaac Herzog today.
“President Isaac Herzog represents a government that is perpetrating ongoing atrocities and war crimes in Gaza,” Hannah Bond, co-CEO of ActionAid UK said.
“The Israeli authorities must be held accountable for the grave and multiple breaches of international humanitarian law. That means implementing rulings by the ICC and ICJ, which the UK is obligated to comply with.”
Mandelson retains backing of government after Epstein birthday card published
09:28
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Athena Stavrou
Peter Mandelson has retained the backing of the government after a birthday message he wrote to Jefferey Epstein in 2003 resurfaced.
Sir Keir Starmer has given Lord Mandelson his full backing to stay on as Britain’s ambassador to the US, stressing the positive work he has done to build ties with the Trump administration.
Education minister Josh MacAlister said on Wednesday morning that Lord Mandelson still retained the backing of the Government and he warned against finding people “guilty by association” with Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr MacAlister said: “People who abuse people in this way are often very good at hiding what they’re doing and… manipulating people. And that’s obviously what Jeffrey Epstein did.
He added: “Jeffrey Epstein was a very effective social networker. He built relationships with lots of people, and in doing so, was highly manipulative, very secretive, and abused a lot of people in the process, and it’s why so many people, including Peter Mandelson, now deeply regret ever having been introduced to him and also continuing the relationship with him, if they had one.”
Who is running in the race to become Labour’s new deputy leader?
08:58
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Athena Stavrou
Six MPs have thrown their hat in the ring to become Labour’s next deputy leader.
Here is who is running:
Bridget Phillipson
Ms Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has emerged as the early frontrunner, securing the backing of the most colleagues in the first official tally after nominations opened on Tuesday.
Lucy Powell
Former Commons leader Lucy Powell has 35 of the 99 overall nominations as of Tuesday evening. Having been sacked by Sir Keir in his reshuffle, her status as more of an outsider could work in her favour.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
Backbencher Ms Ribeiro-Addy was the first to declare her candidacy. Seen as coming from the left of the party and supported by Socialist Campaign Group chairman Richard Burgon, she has called for Labour to “go back to the guiding values of our party and movement”.
Dame Emily Thornberry
The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman sits on the backbenches but held a number of senior roles in opposition.
Paula Barker
Liverpool Wavertree MP Ms Barker said she was running because she is “worried about the lack of geographical and political diversity at the top of our Party.
Alison McGovern
Housing minister Ms McGovern, launching her bid for the deputy leadership, vowed to defeat the “huge threat from the dark forces of right-wing populism” by fighting for “the right to a home, a job and to feel part of this country”.
Lord Mandelson: My birthday message to Epstein is "embarrassing"
08:36
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Athena Stavrou
Lord Mandelson has said he finds his birthday message to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein “very embarrassing”.
He appeared to refer to Epstein as his “best pal” as he shared a photograph of the pair together in which he is wearing a bathrobe, according to files released by a US congressional committee.
The UK ambassador to the US told The Sun’s Harry Cole Saves The West programme: “I find them very embarrassing to see and to read, but they were written before he was indicted.
“I just feel two things now – one, I feel a tremendous sense, a profound sense of sympathy for those people, those women, who suffered as a result of his behaviour and his illegal criminal activities.
“Secondly, I regret very, very deeply indeed carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done.”
Hundreds protest Israeli president's visit to UK
08:30
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Athena Stavrou
The Israeli president’s visit to the UK has been met with protests and criticism from both the public and politicians.
Hundreds of Pro-Palestine protesters have gathered on Whitehall opposite Downing Street on Tuesday evening.
One protester had a sign which read “Isaac Herzog genocide defender not welcome here!”, while others chanted “Keir Starmer shame on you”.
The visit has also prompted criticism from politicians.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP said Mr Herzog could be in the Hague rather than on a “flight to London”.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said the Government was “welcoming war criminals” ahead of the visit.
What is happening today?
08:13
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Athena Stavrou
It’s a busy day in politics, with PMQs, a meeting with the Israeli president and Labour’s deputy leadership contest underway.
At midday, Sir Keir Starmer will face his weekly questions in the Commons.
This will be followed by a meeting with the Israeli president at Downing Street in the afternoon.
At 2pm, E5 defence ministers will be meeting with John Healey.
In the evening, Labour are holding deputy leadership hustings where potential candidates will pitch themselves to their colleagues for nominations.
Watch: Multiple Labour MPs considering defecting to Greens, says Zack Polanski
07:48
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Athena Stavrou
Starmer to meet Israeli president after condemning strike in Qatar
07:46
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Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet Israeli president Isaac Herzog in the UK, a day after condemning Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar.
The prime minister said Israel’s attack represented “a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty” and risked fuelling further escalation in the Middle East.
It is against this backdrop, as well as the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, that Sir Keir is set to meet with Mr Herzog on Wednesday during the Israeli president’s trip to Britain.
The prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “The prime minister will be meeting the Israeli president, where he’ll raise the intolerable situation in Gaza, the action Israel must take to end the horrific suffering we’re witnessing. It cannot go on any longer.”
No 10 underlined Sir Keir’s “revulsion” at the suffering in Gaza, but did not repeat Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s calls for Mr Herzog to answer for alleged war crimes and ethnic cleansing committed by his country.
Starmer creates ‘Budget board’ to boost economic growth and keep businesses onside
07:44
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Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has launched a “Budget board” to boost economic growth and keep businesses and City leaders appeased, according to reports.
As part of his reset following Angela Rayner’s resignation last week, the prime minister plans to refocus the Cabinet on pro-growth policies with a new board that will link top ministers and 10 Downing Street officials with the Treasury.
The board will be chaired by Mr Starmer’s new economic advisor Baroness Minouche Shafik, a former Bank of England deputy governor, and Treasury minister Torsten Bell, who will meet weekly, according to the Financial Times.
Read the full story here.
Upcoming Budget risks fracturing new cabinet
07:36
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Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has only just reshuffled his cabinet, but the upcoming Budget could see it fracturing in the near future.
Divisions could become clear as Chancellor Rachel Reeves works on a Budget which could involve tough choices as she tries to cut costs or raise taxes to fill a black hole in the public finances.
Downing Street said the Chancellor told ministers during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting: “The entire autumn, and beyond, must be about growing the economy in a way that makes working people better off and provides the revenues we need to fund our public services.”
She said the Government would “deliver economic stability and public investment so that consumers have the confidence to spend and businesses have the confidence to invest”.
Ms Reeves acknowledged here was more the Government “must do to attract international investment, drive jobs and growth across the country, get Britain working, back the builders and not the blockers, and buy British”.
Labour deputy leadership candidates to make their pitch in hustings
07:33
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Athena Stavrou
Labour deputy leadership hopefuls are set to make their pitches to fellow MPs in hustings on Wednesday, with Bridget Phillipson emerging as the early frontrunner.
The hustings is expected to happen in private online on Wednesday evening after the latest nominations figures are released.
Former Commons leader Lucy Powell, who was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer in his reshuffle, was close behind with 35 of the 99 overall nominations.
Backbencher Bell Ribeiro-Addy had eight, Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry seven, Paula Barker three and housing minister Alison McGovern came last with two nominations.
The candidates have until 5pm on Thursday to secure the support of 80 MPs in order to reach the next round of the contest.
Reeves urged to break tax promises rather than target businesses
07:30
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Athena Stavrou
Rachel Reeves has been urged by business leaders to walk back a pledge not to raise taxes on working people ahead of the budget.
The chancellor is expected to present a package of tax rises in her 26 November statement as economic growth continues to stagnate, although she’s been constrained by Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise taxes on working people.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)’s chief executive, Rain Newton-Smith, told The Guardian that the chancellor can’t “raid corporate coffers again” and should look elsewhere.
“The fact is that geopolitics and global markets have shifted. The world is different from when Labour drafted its manifesto, and when the facts change so should the solutions,” she wrote.